Spread Joy This Holiday with Books and Chocolate – An Icelandic Tradition
In recent years, I have learned about an Icelandic custom for the holidays. Everyone receives books from friends or family. On Christmas Eve night, everyone reads their books and has chocolate. People can gather in a room and read their books quietly together. Or read a book out loud to each other. Or even listen to an audiobook together. And drink hot chocolate or consume chocolate in any form you choose.
When you adopt this tradition, you can also give back to others. When purchasing chocolate, try to buy from a fair trade company. Click here for a list of certified Fairtrade chocolate companies. This ensures that the workers are compensated fairly and that the company follows other best business practices. Purchase your books from a local independent bookstore. Click here for a directory of independent bookstores in your neck of the woods. Perhaps choose a bookstore owned by people of color or LGBTQ+ community members. If you don’t have an independent bookstore nearby, you can buy online from Bookshop.org. A portion of your purchase will go to the local bookstore of your choice. If you want unique, award-winning, diverse books for kids 0-8, shop online at Barefoot Books, a women-owned independent publisher. The gift of a book is a gift that keeps on giving.
Even if you don’t try out this tradition, you can give gifts that bring joy to the recipient and help others. Try buying from a company that returns a percentage of sales to a charity. Or shop at local mom and pop in person or online. Buy gifts that are earthy-friendly. Perhaps donate money to a charity important to the person you wish to gift, instead of a material present.
Lastly, remember to be kind and empathetic. Listen to others. Their politics may differ, but we all have so much more in common as humans. Spread joy!
